, her
motors turning over just enough to keep her in the same spot. Eleven
hours later the Z-1 was still up but shortly afterward signalled that
she was being forced to land because her fuel supply was becoming
exhausted. Soldiers detailed for the purpose assisted in mooring her
fast in a field near Loiching, where guarded by hundreds she lay all
night in the storm, unharmed, though repeatedly assailed by squalls
which often swept against her with 40 miles per hour (18 meters per
second) velocity. The next day she went up and hopped over to Munich and
received a wildly enthusiastic greeting from the thousands who had
followed her adventure with personal pride and interest. The Z-1 spent
four hours flying over Munich and then turned on her heels and back to
her harbor at Friedrichshafen. If there was anything necessary to
silence the few critics who still entertained doubts as to the ultimate
practicability of rigid airships, that flight of the Z-1 accomplished
the purpose.

Count Zeppelin meanwhile was rebuilding his "Echterdingen" airship and
on May 29th, 1909, he took it out of Manzell toward the north of
Germany. He kept on until he reached Bitterfeld before turning back
toward Lake Constance. After 38 hours in the air during which he had
traversed 683.5 miles (1100 kilometers) he landed at Goeppingen for
gasoline. In landing the ship struck a tree but the damage was quickly
repaired and the rigid was able to return under its own power to the air
harbor on Lake Constance.

Hailed as National Hero

After a thorough overhauling Count Zeppelin flew the same airship to
Berlin, at the express invitation of the Kaiser, who gave a dinner in
his honor at the Royal Palace following an enthusiastic popular
reception from the entire populace in the capital. On his return to Lake
Constance he met severe storms and a broken propeller compelled a
landing. It was found that a piece of the blade had penetrated one of
the gas bags; and three days were required to repair the damage.
Finally, after 27 hours in the air, the ship once more rested in its
home shed. It is said that this flight forever established Zeppelin in
the confidence of the people and the Government. His ships acquired the
reputation of the builder in being able to surmount tremendous
difficulties. The Zeppelin headquarters at Friedrichshafen became the
German Mecca. But the Germans were not alone in their pilgrimage for
thousands of persons interested in aeron